As a significant employer in several regions in which it operates, midtier gold miner Pan African Resources also prioritises social upliftment and the economic development of near-mine areas, says investor relations head Hethen Hira.

Pan African is doing its part in future-proofing mining in South Africa by continuing to implement its sustainable approach in terms of helping to develop localised economies near its operations, creating jobs outside of mining and developing regional skills.

Hira adds that the company is cognisant of its being the largest employer in the communities where it operates and, besides direct employment, of having a substantial impact on the greater community, including the supply chain.

“We have, therefore, started to put in place sustainable development initiatives that will generate parallel economic opportunities and skills development outside of mining.”

He highlights Pan African’s blueberry farm, developed near its Barberton mine, in Mpumalanga, as an example of such an endeavour, where the company has initiated the development of agricultural skills for local community members, and created seasonal employment opportunities for up to 200 people.

Importantly, there will be additional downstream jobs created in terms of logistics and the marketing of the products, value streams for any useful by-products and developing the associated supply chain.

“We are also capacitating small and medium-sized enterprise business development skills, where those involved in local companies are trained to build businesses and skills that are not reliant on mining,” explains Hira.

Pan African also provides bursaries in finance and associated fields that can be used in other industries.

Further, infrastructure established by the company, such as renewable-energy plants and water recycling plants, as well as schools and clinics, adds to the upliftment and development of near-mine communities, consequently improving their sustainability and bolstering their self-sufficiency.

Hira says Gauteng, with its legacy of extensive gold mining, has developed since the gold boom years, into an economy less reliant on mining, with the region being a case study for how post-mining sustainability can be used to develop regions that have moved away from mining.

“The mining industry is a fraction of what it was in the 1970s and yet our cities continue to thrive, mainly because of industries developed through mining skills and expertise,” he highlights.

In outlining the company’s position on prioritising sustainable, responsible, accountable, fair and transparent mining operations, Pan African CEO Cobus Loots will address the topic: ‘The communities we leave behind, and the impact of mine closure’, at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, on February 4.